Interfolded sheet dispenser



June 29, 1937. Q A, SHAFFER 2,085,481

INTERFOLDED SHEET DI SPENSER Filed Dec. 8, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l i l Q l l l l June 29, 1937. G, A, SHAFFER 2,085,481

INTERFOLDED SHEET DISPENSER Filed Dec. 8, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Anil,

Patented June .29, 1937 Fries INTERFOLDED SHEET DISPENSER Glenn A. Shaler, Green Bay, Vl/is., assigner to Y Fort Howard Paper Company, Green Bay, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application December 8, V1934, Serial No. 756,685

(Cl. B12-60) 4 Claims.

The invention relates to dispensers of the type adapted -to dispense interfolded sheets as paper towels or the like, and vhas as an object the provisionof a device thatwill reduce as muchas possible the amount of strain which must be put upon the sheet to withdraw the same from the dispenser.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of this class having an oscillatable lo sheet-supporting element which shifts the support without appreciable lifting ofthe column of sheets.

It is a further object of the invention to 'provide a device of this character applicable `to eX- isting dispensing cabinets.

Further objects of the invention will appear from `the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings showing illustrative embodiments of the invention, and wherein:-

Figure l is a vertical transverse section through the lower portion of a dispensing cabinet showing one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a movable element `in one position occupied while the sheet is being withdrawn and in dotted lines another position thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation as seen from, the left in Figure l of the device removed from the cabinet;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a blank for making one member of the movable element;

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the structure of Fig. 3, showing the cabinetinsection;

Fig. 6 is a section corresponding to Figure 1 showing another form of the invention;

Fig. 'l is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 showing the form of the invention ofFig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of still another form' of the invention.

The difculty with the dispensing of paper towels packaged in interiolded style is the strain that must be placed upon the towel in order to remove the same from the cabinet at the same time pulling out the leading edge of the succeeding sheet. The amount of this strain has made it impossible to successfully commercialize towels of soft paper of a type which is in common use as toilet paper.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser that will make use of such towels possible.

In accordance with the invention an oscillatable element I0 is shown formed of two similar blanks Il illustrated in plan view in Figure 4.

portion shown uppermost in Figure 3, the ele- The blank II is shown as comprising a central portion' Il2, 'edge portions 13, |54, and tab-forming portions I5., IE.

To provide the element Il) two members are formed of blanks I I, the tabs I5, I6 being bent at right angles to the .portion `I2 to the position shown in Figure 3 and the margins I3, I4, being bent .to arcuate form as clearly indicated in Figures .1 and 2. The tabs I5, I6 are then telescoped together and v,perforated for pivots I'I, I8.

1n the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and .2, the vpivots ITI, L8 are shown as secured in a U-shaped frame i9 .having end portions 20, 2| 4and a connecting .bar 22 whereby a side of an existing cabinet as 23, `Figures 1 and 2, may be 15 removedand the frame carrying the element I0 may be placed therein to convert the existing cabinet to cause it to operate as in the present inven tion.

It will be seen that when the sheets are placed in the cabinet, the leading edge of a sheet as 24 may `'be passed through the delivery passageway 25 between the .members of element III. With the. cabinet thus charged, a pull upon the leading edge 24 of the sheetlwill cause the element I to swing to `or toward the `position shown in Figure 2 where Athe sheets will `be supported by the margin` I4 of one of the members of the element I0 and the portion of the sheet being withdrawn will pull about the rounded surface of the other member. Continuation of the pull will bring the interfolded edge 24 with the sheet being withdrawn down into the passageway and when the sheets being withdrawn come to pull about the ment II) will be oscillated to or toward the dotted line position of Figure 2, thus shifting the support of the sheet and removing all friction due to the weight of the column of sheets from the sheet being withdrawn. It is important to note that in accordance with the invention practically no lifting of the column of sheets is involved, as the surfaces of the margins I4 are formed in the arc of the circle around the pivots I'I, I8 and one margin is swept under the column of sheets as the other margin sweeps out from under.

The only possible drop of the sheets as the support shifts is the amount of space between the arc of the circle of oscillation and a cord oonnecting the outermost surfaces of the passageway 25. 'Ihe passageway between the members comprising element IIJ may be made as small as desirable and the possible amount of drop can be thus reduced.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 6 and 7, an element closely approaching the element l0 of Figure 1 is shown at I0', which element is made up of blanks closely similar to the blank I I shown in Figure 4. As shown this form of the invention is pivoted in fixed position in a cabinet and is useful where the cabinet is to be originally constructed with the invention applied thereto.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the pivot I8' is placed near the lower portion of the element l0', thus reducing the over-al1 height of the element since there is no necessity for support of a frame for subsequent insertion of the device of the invention. Therefore the pivots can be placed closely adjacent the delivery opening 26 of the cabinet itself, whereas it will be seen that the delivery opening 21 of the form of cabinet of Figure 1 and the shape of the bottom members 28, 29 of this cabinet, which is an existing form of cabinet, necessitates the placing of the oscillatable element more remote from the delivery opening 21 in said cabinet.

It is desirable that the lower edge of the oscillating element I0 or I0 be placed in the vicinity of the delivery opening 26 or 21 in order to properly guide the paper as it is withdrawn.

The operation of the form of Figures 6 and 7 will be clear from the description given of that of the rst described form of the invention.

In Figure 8 is shown a form of the invention which may be utilized with either that of Figures 1 to 5 or 6 and '7. As there shown the sheet contacting portions of the oscillating element are provided with rollers 30.

Minor changes may be made in the physical embodiments of the invention within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. An interfolded-sheet dispenser comprising, in combination: a casing having a delivery opening, a pair of spaced members providing a sheet delivery opening therebetween and supporting sheets in said casing clear of the bottom thereof; said members mounted in said casing in sheetsupporting position for movement in directions substantially transversely only of a vertical plane through said opening; means interconnecting said members to move each into sheet-supporting position without lifting of the sheets as the other thereof is moved out of sheet-supporting position by pull upon a sheet being withdrawn.

2. An interfolded-sheet dispenser comprising, in combination: a casing having a delivery opening; apair of spaced interconnected members each mounted above said opening to oscillate on a horizontal axis and providing a sheet delivery passage therebetween; sheet-supporting means carried by the upper portion of each of said members to support sheets in arcuate position in the casing substantially clear of the bottom thereof, said members moved alternately in opposite directions in an arc tangential to said sheets along the lower surface of the lowermost sheet about the axis of its supporting member, each member moved about its axis by said interconnection to said supporting position as the other is moved by pull upon a sheet incident to its removal.

3. An interfolded-sheet dispenser comprising, in combination: a casing having a delivery opening; an element pivotally mounted in said casing on a horizontal axis to oscillate above said opening; said element comprising rigidly connected spaced members providing a sheet delivery passage therebetween; the upper margins of said members formed in arcs of a circle struck from said axis to extend in opposite directions from the opening of said passage, to provide sheet-supporting surfaces; pull upon an interfolded sheet during its Withdrawal causing oscillation of said element to sweep said surfaces into and out of sheet supporting position in alternation.

4. An interfolded-sheet dispenser comprising, in combination: a casing having a delivery opening; a sheet supporting element pivctally mounted in said casing above said opening; said element comprising spaced plates providing a delivery passage therebetween; end walls for said passage connected at their edges to the end edges of said plates; said end walls mounted on pivots in the casing; the upper margins of said plates extending outwardly from said passage upon arcs centered at said pivotal axis.

GLENN A. SHAFFER. 

